Sucker-rod elevator



March 14, 1933. E. E. STEVENSON SUCKER ROD ELEVATOR Filed May 14, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l [/v l/f/V 701?. [a WARD 5 5775 VE/VsO/V March 14, 1933. E, STEVENSQN 1,901,339

SUCKER ROD ELEVATOR Filed May 14, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AUTOR/VE'K Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES roams v Application filed May 14,

-My invention relates to supporting devices for linear members, and more partlcularly to supporting devices for sucker-rod elevators.

The pumping equipment'ordinarily used inpumping a deep oilwell Consists of a pump suspended in a well on a pumptubing, this plunger.

This spring of sucker-rods is formed of lengths having enlarged heads at either end thereof and these lengths are joined together by suitable couplings.- In raising the string of sucker-rods from the well, it is necessary to employ a device for suitably grasping the upper end of the string at the surface of the ground. 7

In a sucker-rod elevator of this character, it is important that the device be quickly and easily attached to and detached from the sucker-rod, and be positively lockedwhen in gripping position to obviate the possibility of lacing a string of sucker-rods while withdrawing the sucker-rods from the well.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a device which will grasp and support sucker-rods, although I do not wish to limit the scope of my invention to a device for supporting sucker-rods oil wells, as my invention is equally applicable to supporting pipe, etc. I V

Another object ofmy invention is to provide a sucker-rod supporting device embodying a rod-grasping mechanism which automatically closes when a sucker-rod is moved into position to be engaged thereby.

A still furtherobj ect of myinvention is to provide a device. of the character'described which embodies a locking mechanism for normally holding the rod-grasping mechanism in an open rod-receptive position and which is released by engagement with a sucker-rod when such rod is positioned within the rodgrasping mechanism.

PATENT; OFFICE EDWARD E. s'rnvnnsoiv, or LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ssrenon. 'ro ruvrsco DERRICK & EQUIPMENT COMPANY, or nos ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION CALL STICKER-ROD ELEVATOR 1932. Serial No. 611,345.

It still another. object of my invention to provide a rod-supporting device in which the rod-grasping and supporting mechanism is positively held in closed rod is supported therein. I Further objects andadvantages of my invention will be apparent from a perusal of the following specification, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

Referring'to the drawings, which are :for illustrative purposes only: v Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned front elevationa-l View of my device showing the .rodgrasping members in closed position. v f

Fig. 2is a View comparable to Fig.1 but showing the rod-grasping memberslocked in open position.

- Figs. 3 and 1 are-top plan views of Figs. 1 and 2 respectively, with parts. broken away. Fig. 5 is a side elevational view taken as indicated by the arrow f Fig.,1.

, Fig. 6 is a perspective View of one of the position while the rod-grasping closure members of my invenshape. The body 11 has a base'fiange 12 and is provided adjacent the top thereof with bosses 13 adapted to receive bail pivoting 11 and are placed diametrically opposite relative to theaxis B-B ofthe body 11,as

shown in Fig. 3. Adjacent the bosses 13, the

body 11 is provided with a pair of bail stop lugs 15 which projectoutwardly therefrom. The stop lugs 15 are. oflset rearwardly from the vertical'axis A A of the body 11" and are in substantially the same horizontal plane with the bosses 13 and the pins 14. The lugs 15 are also placed diametrically opposite relative to the axis BB of the body 11.

Pivoted to the body 11 by the pins let'is a bail member 16, the upper end "of which (not shown) is adapted to be engaged by a suitable supporting'means. The lower-end of each leg of the'bail member 16 is provided 7 with a bore 19 through which the pins 14 expins 14. The bosses 1,3 are offset forwardly I relative to the vertical axis AA of the body tend into the bosses 13 in threaded engagement therewith, and is enlarged to form a recess 20 for the reception of the lugs 15, the configuration of the recess 20 being such that it allows the bail member 16 to pivot on the pins 14 in one direction, as indicated by the arrow 21 of Fig. 5, but prevents rotation thereof relative to the body 11, in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow .21, beyond a point which is parallel to the vertical axis (3 00f the pins 14, as shown in Fig. 5. It will be seen that due to the center of gravity of the body 11 being located rearwardly of the axis C C of the pins 14, the body 11 will always assume the correct rodreceptive position when supported by the bail member 16.

g The body 11 is provided with an opening 36, extending v ertically .therethrough. The opening 30 is conoidal in configuration, being :of an elliptical-shapeat thetop of the body 11 as indicated at 31, and extending convergently downward, is of circular configuration at the bottom thereof, as indicated at 32. Provided in the walls forming the opening 30 is a pair of inwardly facing cam grooves 35 and '36. The cam grooves 35 and36 are positioned diametrically oppositewithin the opening 30 and converge downwardly from enlarged openings 37 and 38 at the top of the is a pair of rod-grasping closure members 41 and 42. The members 41 and 42 are provided with tongues 43 and 44 respectively, which tongues conform to the configuration of the cam grooves 35 and 36 respectively, and are adapted to be slidable upwardly and downwardly therein. Each of the closure members 41 and 42 comprises a body 45 having an enlarged semi-elliptical top 46, a downwardly converging outer surface 47 and a perpendicular face 48. Formed in the face 48 ofeach of the closure members 41 and 42 is a semicylindrical slot 50. As will be seen from an inspection of the drawings, the closure members 41 and 42, when placed within the opening 30 with their respective tongues 43 and 44 positioned in the cam grooves 35' and 36 and'with their respective faces 48 and slots 50 adjacent, cooperate to grasp and support a sucker-rod 51 in-the manner indicated by dotted linesin Fig. 1..

Partially surrounding the body 11 is an incomplete sleeve member 55. The sleeve member 55 is shaped to conform to the configuration of the exterior of the body 11 and is adapted to be rotatable relative thereto. Proner 'end 87.

vided in the sleeve member 55 are two cam slots 56 and 57 having inclined surfaces 58 and 59. Threadably secured to the closure members 41 and 42 respectively, and extend ing outwardly therefrom and at right angles thereto, are cam following pins 60 and 61. Provided in the body 11 are slots and 66 through which the pins 60 and 61 respectively.

the fiange portion12 of the body 11 by screw means 71, as shown in Fig. 2, and the other end of which is attached to the sleeve 55' by screw means 72, as shown inFig; 5. As will I be'cle'arly seenthe spring exertsa force upon the sleeve in the direction of the arrow 80 of Fig. 4, which-force normally allows the pins 60 and f6lto rest in the bo-ttcm of the inclined cam slots 56 and 57-; Extending horizontally through the wall of the body 11 diametrically opposite the pas- 'sage 40 is a bore 85, this bore 85 being closed at its outer end by a threaded plug 86'and communicating with the opening 30 at its in- The inner end 87 of the bore 85 is of reduced diameter to form a stop shoulder 88. Slidably positioned within the bore 85 is a locking bar 89. having a conical outer end 90 and an enlarged diameter inner end which forms a flange 91 adapted'to engage the stop shoulder. 88 when the locking bar 89 is in an extreme outerp'osition, as shown in Fig.4.

Thelocking bar 89 isconstantly forced toward its outermost position by a coil spring 92 compressed between the plug 86 and the inner end of the bar 89. The threaded plug 86 is'screwed into the bore 85 a suflicient distance-so that it does not form africtional obstruction to the free rotation of the'sleeve 55 relative to the body 11.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

With the closure members 41 and'42 in theiruppermost or open position, as shown in Fig. 2, in which position the closure members 41 and 42 are .held against downward When: the rod51 contacts the outer end of the locking bar 89 movement is imparted thereto in the direction of the arm-W98 of Fig. 4' asuificient distance so that the cylindrical portiony99 of the bar 89 clears the perpendicular faces 48 of the members 41and 42, whereupon the closure members4l and 42 are free to move downwardly: and the locking bar 89 is forced entirely within the bore 85 by a camming action between the perpendicular faces 48 of themembers 41 and 42 and the conical portion90 of the bar 89.

It will be clearly seen that as the members 41 and 42 are moved downwardly subject to the force of the tension spring which rotates the sleeve 55 relative to the body11 J force imparted by the weight of the'rods inv the directionof the arrow 102 of Fig. 1 will positively prevent upward movement of the members 41 and 42 and a consequent inadvertent release of the sucker-rod. I

hen the weight of the rods is removed from the members 41 and 42 by sliding the body downward away from the head of the sucker-rod, the sleeve 55 may be manually rotated relative to the body 11 in the direction of the arrow 104 of Fig. 4, which causes the inclined surfaces 58 and 59 of the respective cam slots 56 and 57 to lift the pins 60 and 61 and consequently the members 41 and 42 upwardly. The sleeve 55 is provided with an outwardly projecting finger 105 provided as a grasping means for the manual manipulation of this sleeve. WVhen the extreme upward travel of the members 41 and 42 has been accomplished, the locking bar 89 will be forced outwardly between the perpendicular faces 48 of the members 41 and 42, and hold these members in open position until again released by a sucker-rod being.

positioned inv the opening 30.

Although I have herein shown and described but a single embodiment of my invention. it should be understood that I am aware of various features that might .be added, and numerous embodiments thereof that might be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention: y

1. In a sucker-rod elevator of the type described, the combination of: a body having an opening therein, said opening being adapted to receive a sucker-rod; walls forming a passage in said body communicating with said opening, said passage being adapted to accommodate the passage of said suckerrod into said opening; a closure mechanism operable to close said passage; locking means operable to releasably retain said closure mechanlsm in open posltion, said locking means'being adapted be released bycontact with said sucker-rod when said suckerrod is posltioned in said open1ng;automat1c means adapted to operate said mechanism to close sald passage when sald lockmg means is -released'; and manualmeans for operating said mechanism to open said passage.

2. In a sucker-rod elevator of the type described, the combination of: a body-having an opening therein; walls forming a passage in said body, said passage communicating with said opening; a closure IIIBClllDlSIIl'PO- sitioned within said opening, and operable to close said passage; locking means operable to releasably retain said closure mechanism in'open position, said lockingmeans being adaptedto be released by contact with said sucker-rod when said sucker-rod is positioned in said opening; automatic; means adapted to operate said mechanism to'close said passage when said locking' mea'ns. is released;

and manual means for operating saidmechanismto open said passage. i

3. In a sucker-rod elevator of the type described, the combination of: abody having an opening therein, said opening being adapted to receive a sucker-rod; walls-formQ ing a passage in said body communicating with said opening, said passage being adapted to accommodate the passage of said-suckerrod into said opening; a closure mechanism positioned within said opening, and operable to close said passage; locking means operable to releasably retain said closure mechanism in open position, said locking means beingadapted to be released by-contact with said sucker-rod when said sucker-rod is posi-i automatic means tioned in said opening; adapted to operate saidmechanism to close saidpassage when said locking meansis released; and manual means for. operating said mechanism to open said passage. 4. In a sucker-rod elevator of the type de:

scribed: an elevator body having walls form- 1 110 through, said walls, being formedto-provide ing a vertically extending opening therediametrically disposed cam surfaces, said cam surfaces sloping obliquely upward and outward; a vertically extending passage formed insaid body, said passage communicating with said opening; a pair of closure members posltion'ed within said opening 1n movable contact with said camsurfaces, said closure members beingadapted to close said passage when in a loweredposition, and to open said passage when in an upper position;

form *a rod opening adapted "to receive a sucker-rod means for manually moving said i closure members upwardly relative to said I cam surfaces to open said passage; locking means operable to releasably retain said cloan inwardly facing channel in eachv offsaid' closure members,; sa1d channels cooperating to =contact with said sucker-rod when said sucker-rod is positioned in said rod opening; and automatic means operably associated with said closure members to move-said closure members downwardly vto close said passage When said locking means is released.

5. In a sucker-rod elevator of the type described: an elevator body having walls form ing a vertically extending opening therethrough, said walls being formed toprovide diametrically disposed cam surfaces, said cam surfaces sloping obliquely upward and outward; a vertically extending passage formed in said body, said passage communieating with said opening; a -pair of closure members positioned within said opening in -movable contact with said cam surfaces, said closure members being adapted to close said passage when *in a lowered position, and to open said passage when in an upper position;

an inwardly facing channel in each-of said closure members, said channels cooperating to form a rod opening adapted to receive a sucker-rod; a closure-operating member in the form of an incomplete sleeve, said sleeve being mounted upon the exterior of said body in such a manner as not to obstruct said passage, -and being rotatable relative to said body; a pair of cam slots in said sleeve; a slot formed insaid body adjacent each of said cam slots; a pin extending outwardly. from each of saidclosure members, through said slots in said body, said pins being engageably received by said cam slots in such a manner that a rotation of said sleeve in one direction relative to said body will cause said closure members to be moved upwardly on said cam'surfaces to open said passage; locking means operable to releasably retain said closure members in an open position, said locking means being-adapted to be released by contact with said sucker-rod when said suckerrod is positioned in said rod opening; and

automatic means operably associated with said closure members to move said closure members downwardly to close said passage when said loeking means isreleased. i

6. In a sucker-rod elevator of the type described: an elevator body having walls form ing a vertically extending opening therethrough, said walls being formed to provide diametrically disposed cam surfaces, said cam surfaces sloping obliquely upward and out ward; a vertically extending passage formed in said body, said passage communicating with said opening; a pair of closure members positioned within said opening in movable contact with said cam surfaces, said closure members being adapted to close saidpassage when in a lowered position, and to open said passage when in an upper position; an inwardly facing ehannelin each of said closure members, said channels cooperating to form a rod op'ening adapted to receive a sucker-rod;

means for manually m'oving said closure nicating with said openin sing in movable contact with said cam surmembers upwardly relative to said cam surfaces to opensaid passage; a recess formed in said body, said recess communicating with said opening; a locking bar slidably positioned in saidrecess; resilient means provided i within said, recess, said resilient means being associated with said locking bar to cause said bar to project outwardly into said opening between said closure members to hold said closure members-1n an-open positlon by frictional engagement, said locking bar being adapted to be depressed into said recess and out of engagement with said closure members by contact with said-sucker-rod when said suckfaces, said closure members being adapted to close 'SZLlCl passage when in a lowered position, and, to open said passage when in an upper position; an inwardly facing channel 111 each of said closure members, said channels cooperating to form" a rod opening adapted to receive a sucker-rod; a closureoperating member in the form of an incomplete sleeve, said sleevebeing mounted upon the exterior of'said body in such a manner as not to obstructsaid passage, and being rotatable relative to said body; a pair of cam slots in said sleeve; a slot formed in said body adjacent each of said cam slots; a pin extending outwardly from each of said 010- sure members, through said slots in said body, said pins being engageably receivedby said cam slots in such avmanner that a rotation of said sleevein one direction relative to said bodywillcause said closure members to be moved upwardly on said cam surfaces to open said passageg locking means operable toreleasably retain-said closure members in an open posltion, said locking means being adapted tonbe released by contact witlrsaid sucker-rod when said sucker-rod .is positioned in said rod opening; and resilient -means operablyvassociated with said sleeve and said body for causing said sleeve to be rotated in an opposlte direction when said locking means is released, whereby said closuremembers will be moved downwardly on said cam surfaces to close said passage.

8. Ina sucker-rod elevator of the type described :'an elevator body having walls forming a vertically extending opening therethrough, said walls being formed to provide diametrically disposed cam surfaces, said.

cam surfaces sloping obliquely upward and outward; I a vertically extending passage formed in said body, said passage communicating with said opening; a'pair of closure members positioned within said opening in movable contact with said cam surfaces, said closure members bemg adapted to close said passage when in a lowered position, and to open said passage when in an upper position; an inwardly facing channel-in each of said closure members, said channels cooperating to form a rod opening adapted to re ceive a sucker-rod; means for manually moving said closure members upwardly relative to said cam surfaces to open said passage; a recess formed in said body, said recess communicating with said opening; a locking bar slidably positioned in said recess; resilient means provided within said recess, said resilient means being associated with said: locking bar to cause said bar to project outwardly into said opening between said closure members to hold said closure members in an open position by frictional engagement, said locking bar being adapted to be depressed into said recess and out of engagement with said closure members by contact with said sucker-rodwhen said sucker-rod is positioned in said rod opening; and resilient means operably associated with said sleeve and said body for causing said sleeve to be rotated in an opposite direction when said locking means is released, wherebysaid closure members will be moved downwardly on said cam surfaces to close'said passage. v

9. In a sucker-rod elevator, the combination of: a body having an opening formed therein; sucker-rod engaging means in said opening and operable between engaged and non-engaged positions; lock means for looking said sucker-rod engaging means in non engaged position, said lock means being operated by said sucker-rod when same is positioned in said opening; and operating means adapted to move said sucker-rod engaging meansinto engaged position after said suckerrod has been placed in said opening and said lock means operated. v

10. A combination as defined in claim 9 in which said sucker-rod engaging means in-- cludes a plurality of sucker-rod engaging members, and in which said lock means includes a lock member which extends between said sucker-rod engaging members.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 11 day of April, 1932. Y

EDWARD E. STEVENSON. I 

